Process of cracking or otherwise altering the composition of hydrocarbons



May 25 1926.

A. J. PARIS, JR

PROCESS OF CRACKING OR OTHERWISE ALTERING THE COMPOSITION OF HYDROCARBONS Filed May 5, 1915 R%v k 4 h LOWWMKQE 00 U WITNESSES A llomeys N 6 kmwtwwzou Q U @u 90 \N J0 w 0 MFJ W O I w Patented May 25, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AuGUs'rE a. PARIS, ,d*.i3,,, or BRA'nroRD, PENNSYLVANIA.

' success or CRACKING on ornnawrsr. ALTEBING ,THE

' x CABBONS.

comrosrrroN or HYDRO- Application filed May 3, 1915 Serial No. 25,402.

This invention is a process of cracking, or-

otherwise altering the composition of, hy-

drocarbons, and the salient'feature of the been the aim, as -faras possible, to en-- deavor to prevent an elevation of temp'era-' ture in the compression cylinder. In the present process, in contradistinction, I aim to: secure. such a high temperature in the compression cylinder as will effect the cracking, or other change, in the gas or vapor under treatment.

1 Moreover, instead of relying entirely on the heat produced by the compressing operation, the material may be pre-heated, prior to its introduction into the compression cylinder, or the compression cylinder maybe jacketed, as is usual, but, instead of introducing a cooling medium therein, the gas, vapor, or liquid maybe allowetltoflow therethrough prior to its introduction into the compression cylinder, whereby it is preliminarily heated. Furthermore,- .both of the methods for preliminarily heating the material" referred to may be employed in conjunction, if desired. The process is particularly adapted to the treatment of petroleum, of its distillates, coal or analogous oils, for the purpose of making motor spirits or similar products, re-

3 sulting from the cracking or polymerization of the oil. In practical carrying outthe process, the system in which the compression is effected is normally supplied with gas of suitable character, such as natural gas, coal gas, water gas, marsh. gas, which serves as a vehicle or carrier for the oil.

Features of the process, other than those described, will appear from the hereinafter detailed description, and, moreover, will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.-

In the accompanying drawings, I have.

. shown one form of apparatus, which also is part of the present invention, wherein the process under consideration may be practiced, but it will be understood that this ap paratus is illustrative, only, and that the process may be carried out in-various other forms of apparatus.

Figure 1 shows diagrammatically, partly v suitable burner (it. 1

in section and partlyin elevation, a complete apparatus;

pressor, wherein provision is madefor circulating the gas, liquid or vapor through the jacket of the compression cylinder prior to its introduction into the cylinder, and

Figure 2 shows a modified form of com- Figure 3 is a vertical section of one of the separators shown in Fig. 1, e. g., E.

Referrlng to the drawings, A is an oil tank containing oil a, and B is an oil pump for pumping the oil from tank A into compression cylinder C. The oil outlet 6 from pump B leads to a main b, connecting with which, area riser b branch I), and valve 6 through which oil is introduced into compression cylinder 0 through-its oil inlet b. If desired, instead of passing the oil through branch pi e 6 directly into compression cylinder it may be caused to pass through pre-heater D, coil d of which connects with riser 12 through valve 71, the outlet of the coil connecting, through valve b, with the inlet to compressor C. Coil d is preferably contained in a bath (1 of suitable liquid, such as oil or water, or said coil may be heated by steam; the aim being to avoid direct heating'of the oil and thus preclude any preliminary cracking of the oil.

. -As shown, the casing of pre-heater D is provided with an inlet (i and outlet a, for the introduction and exit of the heating agent. In the specific form shown, .preheater D receives its heat from a gas or other The outlet pipe '0 from cylinder C leads toa separator E, in which samples of the heaviest condensible oils accumulate. They I may be drawn off for testing or other purposes through cock Z. Pipe 0 may be provided with a valve 0, whereby in addition to the means shown, a further expedient is provided for regulating the pressure under which-compressor pumps. A pipe 1, provided with a valve 1?, extends from separator E and leads through valvepipe l to.separator- E.

The outlet affromseparator E leads to a large separator E, in which are separated the heavier portions of the treated product, which accumulate therein as shown at 0 The outlet 0 from separator E leads to a further separator E in which a further separation of the heavy products takes place." Outlet 0 from separator E connects-with a,

, from the gas, whence they flow through pipe der 0 into separator E and may be drawn off through valve 0 The gas under treatment, escaping through gas outlet 0 from separator E ,.enters riser c whence it may pass into the expansion cylinder G through inlet'c", where it does work by virtue of its expansion, and the power generated may be used for-anypurpose desired. The main purpose of expandin the gas at this stage is, however, to so re uce its temperature that it may be used for cooling condenser F. The expanded gases pass from c linder G through separators or traps E in which any residual condensable oils are separated, as well as the lubricant which has been used in the expansion cylinder Gr. separator'E enters the cooling chamber f, of condenser F, through inlet f, and passes off through pipe f whence it passes through down-take f branch 7, into coil d of preheater D wherein it becomes reheated and enters compression -cylinder 0 through the valve-controlled gas inlet f thereof. Preheater D may be heated by a gas burner k, or other suitable means, corresponding to burner d of pre-heater D.

,Instead of feeding the oil from pump B through pre-heater D, or pipe 6 into cylinder' C, as heretofore described, the valve g in pipe-b may be closed, th'ereby shutting off communication with rise-r 6 Valve 9 may then be opened, and the oil from pump B allowed to pass through riser g into inlet 7 of 'coil d. The oil may thus be commingled with the expanded gas which comes from condenser F through pipe f and enters coil d thereby enabling the mixed oil and gas to be introduced into compressor C through inlet f 1 If desired, the expanded gas from cylinder G, after passing through separator E, may be caused to enterdown-take h, branch 71., and, after passing through separator E, wherein any residual condensable oils are separated, enters riser k thence through pipe f directly into compressor C, thereby dispensing with the passing of the gas through condenser F and pre-hieater D Instead of passing the gases through pipes k, h k and f directly from expansion cylinr into compressor C, as just described, the valve k of riser k may be closed, and said gases passed through riser it, having a valve it", through valve it into inlet f andpreheating coil d thence through inlet f to compressor C.

Instead of passing the gases which flow through pipe 0 from separator E into condenser F, as described, they may be caused to flow from pipe 0 into down-take 0 into inlet c of expansion cylinder G. The gases,

The gas, escaping from' having been expanded in cylinder G, will then be led, as described, to compressor C, either directly through pipes h, h, if, or through pipes 11,, ll/{7L and pro-heater coil d to said compressor.

If it is desired to allow the gasfrom separatorE to escape from the system, this may be done by manipulating proper valves so as to cause the gas to escape into the atmosphere through outlet 0 of pipe 0. Moreover, the expanded gas from condenserF, after entering pipe f may, if desired, be allowed to enter riser f and escape through pipe 12 into the atmosphere. The gas employedlin the system may be introduced into compressor C through inlet h of riser b through compressor inlet f Referring to Figure 2, acompressor C is shown as being provided with an oil heating jacket C The .oil inlet to the jacket is shown at z", and the oil,'after circulating in the jacket C enters the compression cylinder through port '5 The inlet for the gas is shown at z' and the outlet for the compressed products at i, said pipe '5 corresponding to the pipe 0 of compressor C, and, in practice, will lead to the separator E. If desired, for any special reason, the heating jacket C may be used as a cooling jacketf If desired, at least for temporary use, oil tank A and pump B may be shut off from the system by closing valve 7'. The oil to be treated may be confined in separating tank E, and thenormal'pressure in the system I. may be used, to force the oil therefrom into compressor C, either directly through pipes b b and oil inlet 6', or indirectly through pre-heater D. The oil might also be introduced into compressor C b suction.

The system is provide with numerous manually operated valves, the function of which will be manifest, as well as the customary gages, thermometers, and relief valves, none of which need bedescribed in 11. detail.

Having described the construction of the a paratus, its mode of operation will be 0 car, but it may be summarized as follows, assuming the material under treatment is petroleum, or its distillates.

Assuming it is desired to crack or polymerize'petroleum oil, or one or more of the fractions thereof, the oil is introduced into compression cylinder C in one of the several Ways described, namely, directly through pipes 12, b 6 valve 6' and cylinder oil inlet b, or indirectly through pre-heater D or pre-heater D itbeing, in this. latter case, mixed 'with gas prior to its introduction into the compression cylinder C. In the event the oil, per se, is introduced into the cylinder 0 through oil inlet 6, it meets the gas therein introduced through inlet ii. A mixture of oil and gas having been obtained in cylinder C, the same is compressed to such adegree of pressure that the resulting heat, or elevation of temperature, cracks, or partially cracks, the oil. The resulting mixture is then treated as described to effect the deslred separation of the light and heavy products.

oil, say of 38 degrees Baum. In practice,

about 12 lbs. of such 'oil is suflicient to saturate about 50 lbs. of thegas, though more or .lcss oil may be used. This mixture may be preheated to 150 degrees F. before compressing it, whereupon it is compressed to a pressure of 500 lbs. This results in a temperature of upwards of 900 degrees F.,

which is amply sufficient to crack the oil vapors. If the mixture of oil and gas is initially preheated above 150 degrees F., a lower pressure may be employed than that specified. Moreover, if the mixture of oil and gas is subjected to an initial or preliminary pressure, which raises'it to a temperature of about 400 degrees 11, it may then be introduced into the compression cylinder and further compressed to about 600 lbs. pressure, which will result in a temperature more than sufficient to crack or otherwise alter the oil vapors. The temperature of preheating is determined by the quantity of oil to be treated at each stroke, and also by the gas pressure at the intake of the compressing cylinder.

If the intake is above atmospheric pressure, then the gas should be preheated to a point above the theoretical temperature corresponding to'such pressure if the cracking process is to be carried out at the lowest pressure possible in the compressing cylinder. Pl'essure on the oil does not produce heat, 'so such oil must abstract heat from the gas; accordingly, allowance must be made to produce the required elevated temperature of the oil, and the theoretical amount of heat due to compression of the gas'would not be indicated by a ther-.

mometer, as the oil would, as stated, absorb some of the heat resulting from the compression of the gas.

uids operated upon. In other words, it takes I Having thus fully described the invention,

what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The process of altering the boiling points of hydrocarbon oils, which consists in heating the hydrocarbon oil to a temperature below its boiling point, mixing the oil without the separation of vapors therefrom with a gas, introducing the said mixture into a compressor, compressing said mixture for the purpose of heating the mixture, and subsequently cooling the resultant products and separating the liquids from the gas. V

2. The processof altering the boiling points of hydrocarbon oils, whichconsist's in mixing the oil with a gas,'heating the mixture to a temperature below the boiling point of the oil, introducing such mixture containing the entire contents of the oil into a compressor, compressing the mixture thereby heating the mixture, and subsequently cooling the resultant products and separating the liquid from the gas.

3. The process of altering the boiling points of hydrocarbon oils, which consists.

-in introducing a heated mixture of hydrocarbon oils and a gas, at a temperatuge below the boiling point of the oil, into a compression cylinder, and subjecting the mixture in the cvlinder to a pressure suflicient to crack 'lhe oils. I I

4. The process of altering the boiling points of hydrocarbon oils, which consists in mixing the liquid petroleum in a finely divided state with a gas. compressing the mix ture under such conditions asto cause the desired change and subsequently cooling the resultant products.

5. The process of altering the boiling points of hydrocarbon oils, which consistsv in mixing the liquid hydrocarbon oils with a gas, compressing the mixture and heating it thereby under such conditions as to cause the change desired, and cooling the resultant products. I

6. The process of altering the boiling points of hydrocarbon oils, which consists in mixing the liquid petroleum with a heated gas at a temperature below the boiling point of the petroleum, compressing the mixture under such conditions as to cause the change desired, and cooling the mixture.

7. The process ,of altering the boiling I points .of hydrocarbon oils, which consists I cooling the resultant products.

9. The process of producing hydrocarbon -.oils having low boiling points from hydrocarbon oils having high boiling points which consists in preheating the oil to be treated and subjecting "the oil so treated in the presence of a vapor to a pressure sufficient to heat and compress the same to the temperature and pressure of conversion, and cooling the resultant products under reduced pressure.

10. The process of producing hydrocarbon oils .having low boiling points from hydrocarbon oils having high boiling points which consists in preheating at least a part of the material to be treated in one container, adding a vapor or gas thereto, passing the material so treat-ed including the vapor or gas into a second container and subjecting the material within said second container to a pressure sufiicientto heat and compress the same to the temperature and pressure of "conversion, andv cooling the resulting products under reduced pressure.

11. The process of producing hydrocarbon oils having low boiling points from hydrocarbon oils having high boiling points, which consists in subjecting the oil to be treated to the action of heat at a temperature below its boiling point, mixing it with a gas and subjecting the mixture to a pressure sufficient to heat and compress the same to the temperature and pressure of conversion, without applicationof heat to the exterior of the container in which said pressure is applied to said mixture, and cooling the resulting products under reduced pressure.

12. The process of producing hydrocarbon oils having low boiling points from hydrocarbon oils having high boiling points, winch consists in passing liquid oil under pressure through a heating device wherein sa1 d oil is heated at temperatures below its boiling point, mixing a gas with said oil, and passing the mixture into a second container and subjecting the mixture within said second container to a pressure sufiicient to heat and compress the same to the temperature and pressure of conversion.

13. ,The process of producing hydrocarbon oils having low boiling points from hydrocarbon oils having high boiling points, which consists in passing the oil under pressure through a heating device, passing the oil into a compression chamber, subjectingthe oil in said compression chamber to a pressure suificient to heat and compress the same to the temperature and pressure of conversion, and passing the oil into another container wherein it is retained under said pressure, without being subjected to cooling in said other container.

14. The process of producing 11 drocarbon oils having low boiling points rom hydrocarbon oils having high boiling points, which consists in passing the oil under pressure through a heating device, passing the oil into a compression chamber, subjecting the .oil in said, compression chamber to-a pressure suflicient to heat and compress the same to the temperature and pressure of conversion, and passing the oil. into another container wherein it is retained under said pressure and then cooling and condensing.

15. The process of producing hydrocarbon oils having low boiling points from hydrocarbon oils having high boiling points, which consists in passing the oil underpressure through a heating device, mixing a gas with said oil, admitting said mixture in a compression chamber, subjecting the mixture to a pressure s'uflicient to heat and compress the same to the temperature and pressure of converslon, and admitting the mixture into another chamber wherein it is retained under said pressure without being.

subjected to cooling in said other chamber.

16. The process of producing hydrocarbon oils having low boiling points from hydrocarbon oils having high boiling points, which consists in passing the oil under pressure through a heating device, mixing a gas with said oil, admitting "said mixture in a compression chamber, subjecting the mixture to a pressure suflicient to heat and compress the same to the temperature and pressure of conversion, and admitting the mixture into another chamber wherein it is retained under said pressure, passing the vaporized portion thereof into a condenser and separating the condensate from the gas.

17. The process of producing hydrocarbon oils having low boiling points from hydrocarbon oils having high boiling points,

which consists in passing the oil under 'pressure through a heating device wherein it is heated to a temperature below its boiling point, mixing a gas with said oil, subjecting the mixture to avpressure suflicient to heat and compress the same to the temperature and pressure of conversion, passing the mixture so treated to another chamber and retaining said mixture in said chamber under said pressure.

18. The process of producing hydrocarbon oils having low boiling points from hydrocarhon oils having high boiling points,

which consists in passing the oil under pressure through a heating device wherein it is heated to a temperature below its boiling point, mixing a gas with said oil, subjecting the mixture to a pressure suflicient to heat and compress the same to the temperature and pressure of conversion, passing the mixture so treated to another chamber and retaining said mixture in saidchamber under 10 said pressure, condensing and separating the condensate from the gas.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name .to this specification.

AUGUSTE J. PARIS, JR. 

